DIY Spray-On Dry Shampoo

Published Mar 14, 2013

Dry shampoo is basically the best thing since sliced bread, right? Never before has it been so easy to hit “snooze” and still go to work with your hair looking and smelling fresh—it’s the lazy girl’s Holy Grail. But here’s something even better: an inexpensive, DIY version you can make with items you may already have in your kitchen/bathroom!

Although this spray-on shampoo isn’t technically dry since it relies on alcohol and water, it will refresh your roots and combat odor without having to wet your whole head and shampoo/condition.

You can purchase ethanol alcohol, which is available as certified organic and is commonly used in organic cosmetics products. If you’re not picky, you can also use ethyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol) which can be found at most grocery stores and pharmacies.

You may be balking at the thought of putting alcohol on your head, but no worries—alcohol is in most hair products anyway. The concentration is diluted so that it won’t dry out your hair (more than it’s intended to, that is). Alcohol and cornstarch are natural degreasers, so when water and the alcohol, an odor-killer, evaporate on your scalp, the cornstarch, a slow dissolver, remains to soak up the excess oils and keep you fresh.

What you need:

1 tbsp of cornstarch
4 tbsp of water
1 tbsp of rubbing alcohol or organic ethanol
Small mixing bowl
Small spray bottle (available at your local pharmacy/Target)
A few drops of essential oil (such as lavender, peppermint, or vanilla) for scent

Mix it all together in the bowl, then pour the mixture into your spray bottle. It’s that easy!

To Use:

Shake the ingredients up to mix each time you use. Spray into roots, just enough to dampen. Brush out into hair, then blast your roots with your hairdryer, fluffing with your fingers as you go. You can also air-dry if you’re not short on time.